Hanoi authorities will promote digital transformation in production of handicraft products under the national One Commune One Product (OCOP) program, according to Deputy Director of the municipal Department of Agriculture and Rural Development Nguyen Ngoc Son.

The deputy director said at a recent workshop that this is an important target mentioned in the city's plan on OCOP product development associated with craft village tourism in Hanoi in 2021.

Under the plan, the city’s authorities will enhance production and sale of handicraft products, especially OCOP products, typical rural industrial items, and those with market potential in the capital, provinces and cities nationwide, Son said. "In addition to keep organizing trade connection events, boosting digital transformation in OCOP product promotion is the solution."

OCOP products on display at a promotion fair. Photo: Trong Tung

The Hanoi Department of Agriculture and Rural Development proposed the municipal People's Committee to find mechanisms and policies to channel credit to craft businesses, introduce products to domestic and foreign partners so as to boost export of handicrafts and OCOP products.

The Hanoi People's Committee has also been working on solutions for increasing sales of handicrafts. In 2020, at least 500 memorandum of understanding were signed between OCOP businesses and distribution channels.

Besides, Hanoi targets to complete the evaluation and classification for at least 2,000 OCOP products by 2025, Son said, adding that the city will continue to push for greater efficiency in the implementation of the program in the coming time.

“Hanoi is expected to continue cooperating with other provinces/cities in promoting trade and increase sales of OCOP products from all over Vietnam in distribution channels,” Son noted.

As of 2020, Hanoi had completed a such process for 630 OCOP products achieving three-star rating and above, exceeding the target of having at least 500 OCOP products. For the next five years, Hanoi targets to complete the evaluation and classification process for at least 2,000 products under the national’s OCOP program.

Along with the development of OCOP products, Hanoi has launched 13 OCOP showrooms in the city and organized four OCOP trade promotion events for products from northern mountainous region, Red river delta, central highlands, and southern region.

The OCOP program, with a view to honoring prominent craft villages’ goods and products, has been identified by Hanoi’s authorities as one of the solutions to boost domestic consumption at a time when the Covid-19 pandemic is causing severe consequences on the local economy.